Improvement in mail-bag cranes



F. W. BRIDE NBECKER.

MAIL-BAG CRANES.

No. 195,567, Patented Sept.25,1877

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UNITED STATES PATENT DFFIOE.

FRANK. W. BRIDENBEOKER, OF SOHUYLER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAIL-BAG CRANES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 195,567, datedSeptember 25, 1877; application filed March 22, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK. W. BRIDEN- BECKER, of the town of Schuyler,in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Railway-Cranes for Mail-Bags, which improvement isfully set forth in the following specification, reference being bad tothe accompanying drawings.

The objects of my invention are, first, to hold the mail pouch or bag sosecurely in its proper position that neither the force of the wind, thesuction of the passing cars, nor the jarring of the approaching trainshall detach it from the hooks; secondly, to provide a crane that shallbe more readily and easily adapted to different lengths of bags; and,thirdly, to make the mail-bag visible to the train-men at night, andthus render the ex- (hange by night as certain and sure as by Thedrawings show, in Figure 1, a side view of my improved crane; in Fig. 2,a top view of the upper hook; and, in Fig. 3, a top view of the bottomhook.

The same letters refer to the same parts in the different figures.

It is well known by those connected with the fast mail service that thecranes in present use do not always hold the mail-bag in a properposition until the catcher, attached to the postal-car, takes it off.When the wind is blowing hard it is often impossible to make the bagremain upon the crane unless tied with strong twine. Then, again, inquiet weather the suction of the passing engine, or the jarring of theground caused by the advancing train, frequently detaches the bag justbefore the catcher reaches it and it falls to the ground, and oftenunder the wheels of the cars. By reference to the drawings it will beseen how I remedy this defect.

at a a is the main part of the crane, constructed of iron in the usualmanner, the mailbag being held in a vertical position, the ring in thetop of the bag being held by the hook H, and the ring in the bottombeing held by the hook P. Attached to the top of the rod A is a strongspring, B, to the extremity of which is fastened the hook H. This hookis attached to the spring B by a bolt or rivet, O,

which allows a horizontal motion of the book, like those in present use.Riveted to the hook is a spring, F, so constructed as to press upon theend of the hook H, as shown, and forming a joint, through which the ironring of the top of the bag must pass to be detached, but through whichthe ring cannot pass without the application of considerable force, thuspreventing any accidental detachment of the mail-bag.

The lower hook P has a lever, X, hinged to it, and operated by a spring,S, as shown, said lever being an equivalent of the simple spring F, thuspreventing any accidental detaching of the lower end of the bag. Thehook P is hinged at N to the arm K, thus allowing a horizontal motion ofthe hook, and the arm K is hinged at M to the sleeve J, so that it has avertical swinging motion, like those now in use.

When the bag is in position the weight of arm K and hook P hangs uponthe bag, keeping it in position for the catcher; but when the bag istaken off the arm at once drops down beside the standard a.

The lever X may be used on both hooks, if desired, or the simple springF likewise. The springs may be made of a certain strength, or aset-screw may be attached, to increase or diminish the pressure of thesprings at pleasure.

The sleeve J is slit in a vertical direction through most of its length,as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and a screw, V, and nut with handle I, isused to clamp the two parts upon the standard A at any desired height,thus firmly securing it, the only motions necessary to change the heightof the sleeve being to move the handle I one-half circle to the right,fix the sleeve at the desired point, and move the bandle back againone-half circle to the left.

Instead of the screw V a lever and cam may be used to draw the two partsof J around the standard a, and clamp it firmly in any position but thescrew is prefered.

In transferring mails at night, a lantern is usually shown, to notifythe engineer that the bag is in position and ready for the catcher. Theengineer signals the man who works the catcher; but neither of them cansee the bag in the darkness, and accidents are liable to In my improvedcrane I construct a shelf or platform, 0, on the back side of the crane,as shown, on which to set a lamp or lantern. In this position the lightwill shine upon the bag, and it will be visible to the train-men. Thelight may be so screened as to shine only up on the bag, if desired.Where a lantern is used as a signal it may be hung from a hook, L,instead of standing upon the platform 0. With a light placed in or nearthe position indicated the transfer of mails at night will be renderedas certain by night as by day.

I claim as my invention- The improved mail -bag crane herein described,consisting of the frame a a, having swinging arms H P, provided withsprings or spring attachments F X, the lower arm P being hinged to anadjustable sleeve, J, substantially in the manner and for the purposeherein shown and specified.

FRANK. W. BRIDENBEOKER.

Witnesses:

J. S. PUTMAN, FREDERICK GATES.

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